Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-20

No. L. :. j. X. No. 49, Joint Resolution to
amend Article Five ofethe Constitution OF the
Be It resolved by the Legislature of the State
of Texas, That Article Five of the Constitution
OF the state of Texas shallhe so amended as 10
hereafter read as follows:
ARTICLE FIVE.
Section l. The JUDICIAL power Of this state
shall be vested IN one supreme court, one
Court of Appeals, in district courts and in
such inferior courts as may from time to time
be created by general OF specialfaw.
Sec. 2. The supreme courb shall consist
of such number of justices, not less than five
nor more than seven, as may from time to time
be determined by the Legislature. Such JUS
tees shall be elected by the quallfe voters of
the state at general election and shall hold
their offices for term OF SIX years.
Sec. 3. The chief justice and the associate
justices of the Suprenles court who may be in
Office when this amendment goes into effect,
together with a sufficient number to make the
number of five, sbalf constitute the Supreme
court until such number shall be increased by
law. Upon the adoption of this amendment
the Governor shall appoint a sufficient number
of justices of the. supreme court, in addition to
those who may be in office at the time, to make
the number of I've, who shall hold their Offices
until the next general election. The Justices
of the Supreme court VINO may be in Office
when this amendment is adopted, shall con-
tinue to serve until their terms of office expire
by the Constitution and laws under which they
were elected
Sec 4 The justices OF the Supreme court
shall select from their own number a presiding
officer, who snail be called the chief justice and
who shall hold for such term and perform such
duties as may b. prescribed by the court pro-
Vided, the chief iu stice who may be In Office at
the time when this amendment shall take effect
shab be the chief Justice of the Supreme court
hereby established until the expiration of his
term of Office under his former election or ap-
pofntment.
Sec Each justice of the Supreme court
shall be qualified voter, shall have arrived at
the age of thirty years, and shall have been a
praCticing lawyer In this state, or Judge of a
district court therein, or such judge and lawyer
together, al least seven years at the time Of his
election or appointment
Sec. s. Each justice of the Supreme court
shall receive All annual salary of not more than
$500.
Sec. I. The Supreme court shall have power,
upon affidavit or otherwise, as by the court
may be thought proper, to ascertain such mat
tiers of fact Ms may be necessary to the exercise
of its Jurisdiction.
Sec. g. The Supreme court ghall have power
to make rules of procedure for it's own govern
meRt, and the government of the other courts
OF the state over which 1t may have appellate
Jurisdiction; provided, such rules shall not be
inconsistent with the laws of the state.
Sec. g. The Supreme court shall appoint
clerk for each place at which it may cit, who
shall hold his ollie for four years, subject to
removal by the court, and who shall give such
bond as is or may be prescribed by law.
Sec. 10. The supreme court shall eft for the
transaction OF business from the first Monday
in september to the last Saturday in June Of
every year, provided the business before It is
not sooner disposed of, at the seat of govern !
ment and at not more than two other places in
the state.
Sec. II. The Supreme court may organize,
for the more speedy dispatch of business, into
such divisions as may be deemed eXpedient, |
and under such rules and regulations as may
be prescribed by the court.
Sec IL. The supreme court shall have appel |
late jurisdiction of civil cases, proceedings and
controversies, both as to law and facG, with |
such exceptions and under such regulations |
as may be provided by law.
Sec. IL. The Supreme court and the justices |
thereof shall have power to issue all writs |
known to the law which may be necessary to /
the exercise of It's Jurisdiction. or to enforce |
the same; said court shall also have power by |
or otherwise to compel the District |
and inferior courts to proceed with the trial Of |
cases pending in said courts of which Ii would |
have cognizance of appeal.
Sec. IA. The Legislature may confer upon the |
supreme court exclusive original jur! sdiction |
to Issue writs of m 1ndamus and Injunction |
against the heads OF STATE departments, except |
as againt the Governor.
COURT OF APPEALS,
Sec. 10. The Court of Appeals shall con-
sist of three judges, who shall each be elected |
Dy the qualified voters of the state at general |
election, and VINO shall hold their Offices for |
the term of six years. The judges of the Court |
Of Appeals, or so many of them as there may |
be, who shall be In Office at the time this amend
ment shall take effect, shall be Judges of said |
court as hereby established, and shall hold |